To discuss the review of Labour laws ... Sierra Leone's Labour Minister Meets Director of Labour Unit ILO

Geneva, Switzerland, Sunday 5 June 2022 –The Minister of Labour and Social Security, Honourable Alpha Osman Timbo and the technical team of the Ministry, have engaged the Director of Labour Law Reform Unit at ILO, Ms Christina Mihes and the team of the Unit on the margin of the ongoing 110the Session of the International Labour Organisation Conference in Geneva, Switzerland.

The Unit is responsible for providing technical support to the ILO Member States on the review of their Labour Laws.

The Labour and Social Security Minister, Honourable Alpha Osman Timbo, in his statement, thanked the team for their technical support over the period.

He informed the meeting that the process of Labour law review in Sierra Leone started way back in 2002 and with support from the International Labour Organisation; it has almost taken a decade for the process to be concluded but said with the progressive Leadership of President Dr Julius Maada Bio and the team at the Ministry now, they are on the verge of concluding the process of the review of the undermentioned Labour laws:
1. The Regulation of Wages and Industrial Relations Act, No. 18, 1971
2. The Factories Act, No. 3, 1974
3. The Employer and Employed Act, Cap 212
4. The Trade Union Ordinance, 1940, Cap 221
5. Employee registration Ordinance Cap 213
6. General Law (Business Start-Up) (Amendment) Act, 2007 and
7. The Workmen’s Compensation Act, 1954.

The Minister went further to say Sierra Leone has reviewed the abovementioned Acts and developed the proposed labour bills as follows:
1. The Regulation of Wages and Industrial Relations bill
2. Occupational Safety and Health Bill
3. Workers’ Compensation Bill
4. Overseas Employment and Migrant Workers Bill
5. Work Permit Bill and
6. Employment Bill.

In her response, the Director of the Labour Law Reform Unit at the International Labour Organization (ILO), Ms Christina Mihes, acknowledged and applauded the Government of Sierra Leone through the Ministry of Labour and Social Security for the unprecedented ratification of 10 conventions and 1 protocol.

She said they are grateful to learn some of the achievements and current challenges faced by the Government of Sierra Leone in advancing the Labour law reforms and how the ILO (with specific reference to their Unit) collaborate with the Government of Sierra Leone during the review process.

Ms Christina Mihes assured the Sierra Leone delegation of her ILO commitments to Sierra Leone. Adding that the International Labour Standards and Labour Law Specialist, Abuja, Nigeria Regional Office, Mr Siaka Dubbert, will collaborate with the Ministry in providing the necessary support to the Government of Sierra Leone for a productive reviewing of its labour laws.

At the end of the meeting, the Sierra Leone delegation was asked to make available to the Labour Unit of the ILO the draft labour bills with specific questions per bill before the end of June 2022 for their input and technical support.

*For More Enquiries:
Mohamed Sheriff
Information Attaché, Geneva, Switzerland
+41791756648
Email: m.sheriff@slmge.ch*